A (re)ascensão e expansão da China no mundo globalizado: analisando a nova rota da seda sob as óticas econômica e geopolítica

Abstract

The present study aims to analyze possible Chinese motivations with the proposition of the Belt and Road Initiative (OBOR), also known as New Silk Route, announced in 2013 by current Chinese president Xi Jinping (2013-) in two arrangements: Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Overall, the initiative has as goal the development of infrastructures in Eurasia, promoting trade, financial integration and the transit of people. It is assumed that motivations behind OBOR go beyond the Chinese will to help its neighbors. Thus, the study is developed upon the following research question: “which economic and geopolitical conditions drove China to propose the One Belt One Road?”. In order to answer it, this piece of work was divided into two chapters. The first one was based on the hypothesis that China is currently facing an economic cooldown and its current foreign reserves volume demands that the country use the money in Foreign Direct Investments. To obtain the results, it explains Chinese economic development as a necessary ground to understand what caused the current state of China’s economy. The following chapter, based on a geopolitical analysis, was structured on the hypothesis that China is interested in expanding its political influence in Eurasia and that there is a need to stabilize regions part of the initiative, namely Central Asia and Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Considering these two perspectives, it was possible to note that the OBOR works as a tool that can help China tackle both economic and geopolitical issues, but also contributes to China’s expansion beyond Eurasia. This study was based on a qualitative research methodology, conducted upon systematic literature review in the fields of economics, geopolitics, strategy and Chinese foreign policy.